Thursday, August 20, 2009

Why is development evading the Arabs?

They recognize their problems but do not settle on alternatives; and they are worried about replacing their autocratic political regimes.

Change, they fear, may lead to even worse circumstances.

Responding to the challenge, Arab scholars have collaborated over the past seven years in examining the causes of societal underachievement.

They have studied a range of issues: governance, the economy, gender, poverty, education, environment, health, and conflict. Their conclusions, published starting in 2002 in successive UN Human Development Reports, under the auspices of the United Nations Development Program, have been seminal but also short on effective action for reform.

The UNDP reports have forecast continued deterioration in the wellbeing of the Arab community.

The major findings of the 2009 report were released on July 21. The document revolves around the concept of personal insecurity.

Its underlying thesis is that citizens facing intense personal stress can not change their circumstances for the better.

The findings of the 2009 report spell danger and call for intervention.

Arab regimes are in constant search for legitimacy and do not receive much support from their peoples in this regard. Arab countries score low on political freedoms and high on corruption. Regimes threaten the security of their citizens. The legal environment for non-governmental organizations is too restrictive. In six countries political parties are utterly forbidden. Emergency law is declared to justify police-state activities. Elections are predictable and manipulated. Rulers stay in office for long periods. Read more here ...